CuroCell iA®
By embracing the real problem, a real solution
CuroCell iA® is a Care of Sweden innovation. It has been developed to enable a system to sense, learn and take action whenever the high pressure that can cause ulcers/injuries arises. It takes learnings from years of research and development and applies them to a support surface for widespread use in a range of care settings, such as hospitals and home care.
With Gentle Alternating Low Pressure, the CuroCell iA® system makes the step from mechanical to digital, from manual to autonomous, and a fine tuned total support that we’ve never been able to deliver before in this segment.
The Story
According to Hippocrates’ precept, care is a matter of time and opportunity. A patient who develops a pressure ulcer needs on average 15.5 days of additional care(1) and pressure ulcers/injuries can take five months or more to heal(2). So, the fact that a large proportion of these injuries are avoidable is an important opportunity.
We want to give our caregivers more time for caring. We want to shorten, or prevent altogether, the time a patient must spend in pain and discomfort due to pressure ulcers/injuries. We want to use vital resources more effectively so that offering a good standard of care is economically sustainable.
Our understanding of pressure ulcers/injuries has deepened with time. Whereas ischemia was seen as the sole cause initially, with time research showed that there is a second important cause; cell deformation.
Even as technological solutions were introduced, we faced a dilemma. Alternating systems, developed to combat ischemia, could quickly lead to new pressure ulcers/injuries. Support surface that used Constant Low Pressure to instead envelop the user, did not remove the long, slow pressure build-up that causes ischemia in the first place. It seemed to be a problem that defied each human and technological intervention.
If only there was a way to combine the benefits of alternating pressure with those of Constant Low Pressure. That is why we developed CuroCell iA®, introducing the Gentle Alternating Low Pressure™. This alternating mode retains the advantages of our Pulsating Mode™, providing benefits both as an aid in prevention of pressure ulcers and enhanced comfort.
Main benefits
CuroCell iA® uses artificial intelligence to constantly monitor pressure across the patient’s contact area and calculates its response. The system identifies the patient’s weight and height and can detect changes, such as when the patient adopts a new position.
The AI-based, CuroCell iA® control unit was developed with the aim to improve patient safety and allow professionals to provide a new level of person-centered care. Should a patient’s new posture result in excessive pressure, CuroCell iA® will take action, managing individual cells to adjust the contact between the patient and the mattress. This can reduce the amount of manual adjustments or heavy lifting the care team must undertake.
Quietly and comfortably
With the Care of Sweden innovation Air Flow Control™, the air inside the support surface is reused, eliminating the need for the control unit to run continuously. In combination with the use of magnetic valves, the control units operate more quietly, creating conditions for undisturbed sleep and recuperation.
Due to the air recirculation within the support surface, the system ensures a more consistent temperature throughout the surface, aiming to enhance overall comfort.
Service- and maintenance-free for the first five years
The Air Flow Control™ system recirculates the air within the support surface, eliminating the need for continuous operation, and thus reducing wear and tear. This allows us to offer a maintenance-free solution for the first five years while achieving low energy consumption.
A modular system for different care needs
Our system is modular, providing you with mix-and-match flexibility and freedom. We’ve made sure that the CuroCell iA® Automatic and CuroCell iA® Manual control units are compatible with multiple support surfaces.
The same control unit can adapt to various care needs by being compatible with three different support surfaces: a 10 cm overlay mattress and two replacement mattresses, measuring 17 cm and 20 cm.
Enables a lower total cost of ownership
Our watchwords are durability and flexibility. The CuroCell iA®’s interchangeable parts are developed with the aim to make it easy to use and own.
Moving a patient in order to replace a complete mattress system is arduous for staff and inconvenient and sometimes painful for the patient. With CuroCell iA®, just the support surface or the control unit can be swapped out when needed.
The result is fewer patient moves, less need to replace equipment sets, simpler inventory and reduced storage requirements. Overall, this flexibility makes operation simpler and enables a lower total cost of ownership.
Features
Facilitates during transport
By disconnecting and sealing the CPR connection, the air pressure in the support surface can be maintained for at least 12 hours without being connected to the control unit.
Fully autonomous
Internal pressure automatically adjusts based on the patient’s weight, height, and position.
Quiet and comfortable
The Air Flow Control™ system reuses air, allowing the control unit to operate quietly and intermittently, supporting restful sleep and recovery.
In the event of a CPR-situation
Disconnect the CPR connection from the control unit and leave the lid open to quickly deflate the support surface.
Grip Lock cover
The Grip-Lock cover ensures a high-friction surface that keeps the support surface securely in place, eliminating the need for manual attachment with straps.
Maintains air during power failure
The valves in the control unit open automatically in the event of a power failure and equalize the pressure in the mattress to a Constant Low Pressure. The air is retained for at least 12 hours.
Integrated heel function
The support surfaces are designed with an integrated heel function, aiming to reduce pressure on the heels.
Functions
Gentle Alternating Low Pressure (GALP)
Dynamic program that regularly alternates the air pressure with soft movements to relieve the pressure on the body, offering prevention of pressure ulcers/injuries and comfort.
Constant Low Pressure (CLP)
In the Constant Low Pressure mode, the pressure is evenly distributed over the entire support surface. In this mode, the cells do not alternate but are filled with an equal amount of air all the time.
Maximum pressure (Caring mode)
The air cells are filled with maximum air pressure to provide stability during bed entry/exit and during patient care. Returns to the previous settings after 20 minutes.
Information signals
Sensors in the system will detect if there is an error and provide audible and visual notifications. The system also provides an alert if an upcoming service is predicted.
Panel Lock
Panel lock prevents the control unit from being inadvertently adjusted. The control unit locks itself automatically 30 seconds
after a new setting is entered.
Technical specification
General
CE- marking
Cleaning instruction
Documents
IFU and Product Sheet
References
(1) EN ISO 11201 Acoustics – Noise emitted by machinery and equipment – Determination of emission sound pressure levels”, SP 2018.
(2)ISO 3746:2010 ”Acoustics – Determination of sound power levels and sound energy levels of noise sources using sound pressure – Survey method using an enveloping measurement surface over a reflecting plane”
(3) European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline. The International Guideline. Emily Haesler (Ed). EPUAP/NPIAP/PPPIA: 2019.
(4) SS-EN ISO 5496:2004, DIN 53122-1.